Reinforced collapsible tube.



LE VERT CLARK.

REINFORCED COLLAPSIBLE TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1918.

1,109,1 10, Patented Sept. 1, 1914 l/VVE/VTUR M53 FM lia UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.

LE VERT CLARK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

REINFORCED COLLAPSIBLE TUBE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LE VERT CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of \Vayne, State of Michigan,

have invented a certain new and useful Reinforced Collapsible Tube, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as Will enable 'otliers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a art of this specification.

This invention relates to colla sible tubes. Its object is to combine a tube, 0 that char acter only, with a sufiiciently rigid reinforcing member or bar, placed inside, to prevent the tubular portion from collapsing ongitudinally; but allowing it to be freely collapsed transversely; by either flattening it against, or twisting it around, the bar; while expelling the contents of the tube.

Another object is to prevent the tube bursting while in use: which is more liable to happen when not reinforced. It becomes an unwieldy disagreeable article to deal with if crumpled up endwise, into a. shapeless, unsanitary, mass, as is done by some in the use of ordinarydevices; because the contents then exudes through broken places, while yet a large portion is still unused and has to be thrown away.

A further object is to impart to it, an axial or lengthwise rigidity as a new feature in a collapsible tube; so it cannot be rolled up endwise by a key or otherwise, into the short, clumsy package described. The reinforced tube may thus be more easily used in transferring a part of its contents to a brush held in the other hand; or used' like a brush, with the handle always of the same length, in applying paste, soap, artists paint, glue or other viscous materials to suitable objects; until the contents is all gone, without dirt or waste. The new and useful functions or advantages herein described, being practically impossible in an un-reinforced collapsible -tube container; which doubles up, because it has no back bone, or bends out of axial line, under extremely light stress of leverage; havin no rigidity, unless modified as describe it soon becomes unmanageable. The old style container tube is therefore of very little service as a spreader or applier, after only a small portion of the contents has been used: as it also re uires both hands to manipulate it successfully, at a time one hand Specification of ietters'l'ateiit.

Application filed June 18, 1913. Serial No. 774,320.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

s required to hold the brush or other article, always used in connection with the tube, And lastly, its object is to make a new arr tide of manufacture, of so much greater conven ence and opularity, for the .purposes intended, t at it may induce more people to make better use of the sanitary and other preparations, of a viscous nature,

now to be had, for which a tube is good only as a container; whereas the new reinforced collapsible tube is the best form, both of container and dispenser. When the corners or wings of the collapsed end are folded back the package is made relatively narrower in that dimension, by reason of which it may be gotten into a smaller boa or carton.

In the drawings,:-Figure 1 is a longitudinal horizontal section and Ian view part] broken away, of the rein orced collapsi le lube, embodying this invention.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section .of the tubular portion of Fig. 1; and edge or side view of a flat reinforcing bar member, inside, in combination therewith. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on the dotted line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a square edged reinforcing bar; .a detail of which latter is crimped or folded over itself to a limited extent to seal its filling end 11, after the viscous material and reinforcing bar are placed in the tube. The tube may also have a strip or cap, (not shown) crimped over the sealed end in the usual way for additional security against leakage. The tube may be made of tin, lead or other metal, paper or any suitable material easily and sufliciently collapsible; and the bar, of Wood, metal, or other material of a suitable nature and rigidity; both members being made of proper size and shape for the purposes described. The tube may then be twisted or flattened as at 14 in Fig. 2, but preferably twisted if the bar is round, as at 15 in Fig. 5, to expel the contents.

lines (1 When this bar is placed inside,

then the sealed end 11 of the tube .u'iay have its awkward corners Z again folded back on itself and the end E of the bar. neznuy co incident with the corners (J or the beveled corners 1), inside. But the corners Z may be left square, as dot-ted in l ig. l, \Vitl'uml refolding dGSCllbQd.

In operation, the Wall 10 may be flatly.

compressed against the bar A; beginning near the sealed end 11 and wntinuiug past the portion 1 to the end 12 of Fig. which causes the material to slowly exude through the orifice 16, as needed. However the pres ence of the bar makes it safe in inexperh eneed hands to eells-ipse the derive, withmit observing the special care neeessury with ordinary tubes; which latter to save the For. tainer wells, should he eellapserl first nemthe sealed end; and if not done awarding by the disappointing results hereinbefore described. No printed directions for the mannor of its use being necessary for reinvforced tube; such dir ctious being overlooked or soon forgotten.

In the modifieation shown in 5, the reinforcing bar B may be square edge or cylindrical; with one end broadened out. preferably by the loop B of Fig. 8. Likewise the jagged corner Z", may preferably be folded again over itself and the bar, as above described; to make a more compact parcelnearly uniform in width, that Will' go into a smaller carton or box for shipping. In the operation, of the modified form, the contents may be expelled in the same way as in Fig. 9-, by simply flattening the side Wall 14 against the bar; or by twisting as at 15, the sealed end 11 and loop B inside; while the tubular pert-ion is firmly held, and

gradually collapsed, by the twist, progress ing toward the. other end 12.

li' hile l have shown the pertion E of the bar, nearest the sealed end of the tube. as being broadened to nearly the width of the tube itself, as a better holding or handling means; still a reinforcing bar of: uniform breadth, or approximately so throughout its length, and of relatively" narrower width and l-lllL'kP-ESS the contemplation of this invention.

What I claim is."

l. A collapsible tube having a relatively rigid reinforcing bar plaeed inside lengthwise thereof; whereby in. .using the device the tubular portion may be collapsed trans verselv, but not longitudinally oft-he her to dispense the eoi' tents of the tube.

2. ln :1 device. of the character described, :1 rollng'isible tube and a relatively rigid renioreing bur placed inside thereof centrally 'lisposed end, of the bar, nearest the sealed end of the tube, being somewhat broad; whereby the wall of the tubemay be collapsed upon the sides of the bar, to dispense the contents of the leviee'; the device itself not being otherwise flexible lengthwise of: the bar.

than illustrated, is all within and lengthwise of the tube; the

in a device of the eharaeterdeseribed,

1 collapsible tube, 2 relatively rigidreinform lug bar placed insideand eentrally lengthwise thereof; the fillingend ofv the tube being. collapsed, sealed, and having its sharp corners on oppositesides foldedbaek upon the wall of the'tube thereby reducing the width of the tube at its sealed end, the-wall of the tube being collapsible upon the sides of the bar, but otherwise practically inflexible lengthwise thereof.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

LE VERT CLARK; Witnesses:

, W. C. SQUEER,

J. H. PsnRAUL'r. 

